Medicine dropper drop measuring devices



Dec. 27, 1960 G. F. LEWIS MEDICINE DROPPER DROP MEASURING DEVICES Filed April 11. 1958 INVENTOR. EEFHLU FLzSN/E BY W. H 7 TUFH/VEY Iii-I nil-1| 2,955,284 1C6 Patented Dec. 27, 1950 NIEDICINE DROPPER DROP IHEASURING DEVICES Gerald F. Lewis, 1850 Columbia, Berkley, Mich., as-

signor of one-half to Lester E. Holbrook, Royal Oak, Mich.

Filed Apr. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 727,984

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-209) This invention relates to measuring devices and in particular to means for measuring and paying out a predetermined number of drops of fluid from medicine droppers and the like.

Heretofore it has been quite diflicult to drop precisely a given number of drops of fluid from a conventional medicine dropper consisting of a glass stem having a compressible bulb mounted on the top thereof. Such medicine droppers are ofttimes incorporated into a bottle cap with the bulb extending above the cap and the glass stem depending into the bottle. Whether a free dropper or a bottle cap mounted dropper is employed, the user must first fill the glass stem thereof with fluid by squeezing the bulb of the medicine dropper between the thumb and index finger, immersing the generally pointed lower end of the glass stem into a fluid, and then releasing the bulb while the said pointed lower end of the glass stem remains immersed in fluid. Once the glass tube of the medicine dropper is partially or fully filled with fluid, the fluid therein may be dispensed therefrom one drop at a time by again but gently squeezing the bulb of the medicine dropper. When sufiicient drops have been dispensed, the squeezing pressure on the bulb of the dropper is released, and then the remaining fluid therefrom is ejected into a bottle or other container by rapidly and vigorously squeezing the dropper bulb.

The difliculties encountered in dropping or paying out a given number of drops of fluid from a conventional medicine dropper are that a delicate squeezing of the bulb thereof is required and the number of drops being dropped or paid out therefrom must be counted, the latter preventing the use of the conventional medicine dropper in dark or in dimly illuminated rooms ofttimes occupied by persons who are ill.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide a measuring device for conventional medicine droppers which automatically and accurately measures the dropping of a specific number of drops of fluid therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a measuring device adapted to telescope over the bulb of a conventional medicine dropper, which device is squeezed to pay out or drop a predetermined number of drops or quantity of fluid from said dropper, the said measuring device being readily replaceable by like measuring devices adapted to pay out or drop a different predetermined number of drops of fluid from said dropper.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional medicine dropper bottle showing the medicine dropper thereof equipped with a device embodying the invention for paying out or dropping a predetermined number of drops of fluid therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the dropper cap removed from the dropper bottle with a portion thereof broken away to better illustrate the application of the invention thereto.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a conventional medicine dropper with the bulb thereof equipped with a medicine dropper drop measuring device embodying the invention, the glass stem of the said medicine dropper having been partially filled with liquid.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 4 showing the attitude assumed by the medicine dropper drop measuring device when squeezed for the purpose of paying out a predetermined number of drops of fluid from a medicine dropper equipped therewith.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper end of the construction shown in Fig. 4 with a portion broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Figs. 7 and 8 are top and elevational views respectively of a medicine dropper drop measuring device of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, a drop measuring device 1% embodying the invention is disclosed in connection with a conventional medicine dropper 11 consisting of a glass stem 12 and a resilient bulb 13 having an integral outwardly extending flange 130 at the lower end thereof. The inner periphery of the said resilient bulb 13 is suitably formed at 131 for being elastically positioned on the upper end of the glass stem 12 of the medicine dropper 11 which is preferably flanged at to prevent the said stem 12 from becoming disengaged from the bulb 13 when in use.

The said medicine dropper 11 may be used alone or as an element of a screw type bottle cap 14 for a threaded necked bottle 15. If the medicine dropper 11 is employed as an element of a screw type bottle cap 14, the bottle cap 14 is centrally apertured at 140 to accommodate the stem 12 and bulb 13 of the said medicine dropper 11. The flange 136 of the bulb 13 of the said medicine dropper 11 serves as a washer or seal at the top of the medicine bottle 15 when the said cap 14 is screwed thereon. The medicine dropper i1 is held position in the cap 14 by a frictional fit between the bulb 13 of the medicine dropper and the top of the said cap 14 at the central aperture 140 therein.

The particular drop measuring device 10 disclosed for the purpose of illustrating the invention is prereraoly molded of a relatively hard yet resilient plastic, and consists of a lower annular collar 20 which telescopes firmly over the bulb 13 of the medicine dropper 11, and a pair of oppositely disposed squeeze arms 21 formed integral with and extending upwardly from the said lower annular collar 20. If the medicine dropper 11 is employed as an element of a bottle cap 14, the lower annular collar 26] of the drop measuring device 10 is positioned against the top of the bottle cap 14, see Figs. 1 and 3. If the medicine dropper 11 is used alone, the said lower annular collar 29 of the drop measuring device 10 is positioned against the top of the outwardly extending flange of the bulb 13 thereof, see Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The inner face of each of the said oppositely disposed arcuate arms 21 contacts an opposite side of the bulb 13 of the dropper 11. The said arcuate arms 21 of the drop measuring device 20 terminate at their upper ends in an arcuate squeeze flange 22, each having a pair of oppositely disposed squeeze limit tips 23 at the ends thereof.

The said squeeze limit tips 23 of each squeeze flange 22 are so spaced from the squeeze limit tips 23 of the opposite squeeze flange 22 that, when the squeeze flanges 22 of the drop measuring device 10 are squeezed together until their limit tips 23 are in abutment, the bulb 13 of the for the purpose of filling and emptying the stem 12 of the said medicine dropper 11.

The drop measuring device is readily telescoped onto and ofi from the bulb 13 of the medicine dropper 11'. By employing difierent drop measuring devices it each having different spacing of the opposite squeeze limit tips 23 of the squeeze arms 22 thereof, the number of drops dispensible from a medicine dropper 11 at any single squeezing of the squeeze arms 22 of thedrop measuring device 1% may be governed. Difierent drop measuring devices 10 adapted to dispense or pay out different'numbers of drops may be color coded or suitably marked to designate to a druggist or others the number of drops that each drop measuring device will pay out from a medicine dropper 11- equipped therewith when properly used.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and details of the various elements of the invention, all without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a medicine dropper consisting of a rigid generally vertically disposed stem element open at both ends includin' a bulb element hermetically connected to the upper end of said stem, a drop measuring device formed of an annular substantially rigid collar telescoped over said medicine dropper bulb element adjacent its stern, a pair of diametrically disposed resilient defiectable dispensing arms upwardly extending from saidcollar short of the top of said medicine dropper bulb, the said dispensing arms including substantially rigid arcuate squeeze limit elements at the top thereof adapted to abut at a predetermined deflection distance when said dis pensing arms are squeezed toward each other to pay-out from the said medicine dropper a predetermined number of drops of fluid therefrom, the upper end of said medicine dropper bulb being exposed at all times for finger tip manipulation independentof the said drop measuring device.

2. In combination with a medicine dropper consisting of a rigid stem element open at both ends including an elongated bulb element hermetically connected to one end of said stem, a drop measuring device comprising a substantially rigid annular collar telescoped axially over said elongated bulb element to a position adjacent to said stem element, said collar including a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate dispensing arms extending therefrom adjacent opposite sides of said bulb element and having a gap therebetween, stop means disposed at the extreme ends of each said dispensing arm limiting movement thereof toward each. other when the gap therebetween is manually closed by squeezing said arms toward each other causing a predetermined deflection of the bulb therebetween whereby to pay out from the said medicine dropper a predetermined number of drops of fluid, the said drop measuring device being readily replaceable by like drop measuring devices having a different gap between the dis pensing arms thereof for paying out therefrom difierent predetermined numbers of drops of fluid from said medicine dropper, the said bulb element extending axially outwardy of the drop measuring device whereby to admit of manipulation of the said medicine dropper bulb independently of the said drop measuring device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,517,796 Mathis Aug. 8, 1950 2,857,079 Hall Oct. 21, 1958 

